Bernie: American races in teams' hands
#1
04-13-2009, 01:05 AM
Bernie: American races in teams' hands
Bernie Ecclestone says the future of Formula 1's North American grands prix depends on the teams' willingness to accept more races.
With Montreal following Indianapolis off the calendar, there are no North American races on the 2009 schedule.
The teams have repeatedly expressed their frustration at this, insisting that America is a vital market for their sponsors.
Ecclestone says he is willing to revive the American dates, but not at the expense of other venues as he wants F1 to continue visiting new destinations such as Singapore and Abu Dhabi.
He therefore believes that if the teams are so keen to race in the USA, they should be willing to drop their long-standing objection to the calendar being extended to 20 races.
"The trouble is that the teams don’t want to do more than 17 races," Ecclestone told Motor Sport magazine.
"If they don’t want any more than that then we cannot put on a race in America or get Montreal back."
He confirmed that efforts were underway to get Montreal back on the schedule as soon as possible.
"We are trying to get that back on again," said Ecclestone.
"The government is interested."
Ecclestone is less certain about America's prospects, as he believes Indianapolis is the only current US track capable of hosting F1.
Indianapolis replaced F1 with MotoGP last season after failing to agree a new contract with Ecclestone.
"Apart from Indianapolis, where we have been, there is nowhere in America we could go to and hold our head up and say, ‘This is comparable to other circuits we are building around the world,'" said the F1 supremo.
He said his preference remains for a new track to be constructed in New York.
"It is the one place where someone could make a business out of it," he said.
With Montreal following Indianapolis off the calendar, there are no North American races on the 2009 schedule.
The teams have repeatedly expressed their frustration at this, insisting that America is a vital market for their sponsors.
Ecclestone says he is willing to revive the American dates, but not at the expense of other venues as he wants F1 to continue visiting new destinations such as Singapore and Abu Dhabi.
He therefore believes that if the teams are so keen to race in the USA, they should be willing to drop their long-standing objection to the calendar being extended to 20 races.
"The trouble is that the teams don’t want to do more than 17 races," Ecclestone told Motor Sport magazine.
"If they don’t want any more than that then we cannot put on a race in America or get Montreal back."
He confirmed that efforts were underway to get Montreal back on the schedule as soon as possible.
"We are trying to get that back on again," said Ecclestone.
"The government is interested."
Ecclestone is less certain about America's prospects, as he believes Indianapolis is the only current US track capable of hosting F1.
Indianapolis replaced F1 with MotoGP last season after failing to agree a new contract with Ecclestone.
"Apart from Indianapolis, where we have been, there is nowhere in America we could go to and hold our head up and say, ‘This is comparable to other circuits we are building around the world,'" said the F1 supremo.
He said his preference remains for a new track to be constructed in New York.
"It is the one place where someone could make a business out of it," he said.
#2
04-13-2009, 01:29 AM
Bernie Ecclestone says the future of Formula 1's North American grands prix depends on the teams' willingness to accept more races.
With Montreal following Indianapolis off the calendar, there are no North American races on the 2009 schedule.
The teams have repeatedly expressed their frustration at this, insisting that America is a vital market for their sponsors.
Ecclestone says he is willing to revive the American dates, but not at the expense of other venues as he wants F1 to continue visiting new destinations such as Singapore and Abu Dhabi.
He therefore believes that if the teams are so keen to race in the USA, they should be willing to drop their long-standing objection to the calendar being extended to 20 races.
"The trouble is that the teams don’t want to do more than 17 races," Ecclestone told Motor Sport magazine.
"If they don’t want any more than that then we cannot put on a race in America or get Montreal back."
He confirmed that efforts were underway to get Montreal back on the schedule as soon as possible.
"We are trying to get that back on again," said Ecclestone.
"The government is interested."
Ecclestone is less certain about America's prospects, as he believes Indianapolis is the only current US track capable of hosting F1.
Indianapolis replaced F1 with MotoGP last season after failing to agree a new contract with Ecclestone.
"Apart from Indianapolis, where we have been, there is nowhere in America we could go to and hold our head up and say, ‘This is comparable to other circuits we are building around the world,'" said the F1 supremo.
He said his preference remains for a new track to be constructed in New York.
"It is the one place where someone could make a business out of it," he said.
With Montreal following Indianapolis off the calendar, there are no North American races on the 2009 schedule.
The teams have repeatedly expressed their frustration at this, insisting that America is a vital market for their sponsors.
Ecclestone says he is willing to revive the American dates, but not at the expense of other venues as he wants F1 to continue visiting new destinations such as Singapore and Abu Dhabi.
He therefore believes that if the teams are so keen to race in the USA, they should be willing to drop their long-standing objection to the calendar being extended to 20 races.
"The trouble is that the teams don’t want to do more than 17 races," Ecclestone told Motor Sport magazine.
"If they don’t want any more than that then we cannot put on a race in America or get Montreal back."
He confirmed that efforts were underway to get Montreal back on the schedule as soon as possible.
"We are trying to get that back on again," said Ecclestone.
"The government is interested."
Ecclestone is less certain about America's prospects, as he believes Indianapolis is the only current US track capable of hosting F1.
Indianapolis replaced F1 with MotoGP last season after failing to agree a new contract with Ecclestone.
"Apart from Indianapolis, where we have been, there is nowhere in America we could go to and hold our head up and say, ‘This is comparable to other circuits we are building around the world,'" said the F1 supremo.
He said his preference remains for a new track to be constructed in New York.
"It is the one place where someone could make a business out of it," he said.
All of those are better than tracks like Silverstone (historic, but bland and featureless with terrible infrastructure), Magny-Cours (so boring), A1 Ring, etc.
#3
04-13-2009, 01:42 AM
Road America or Laguna Seca would both be incredible venues. BIG money could be made with the race at Laguna Seca...
I'd also love to see the season extended to 20 races, but I guess teams don't want to pony up the extra cash?
I'd also love to see the season extended to 20 races, but I guess teams don't want to pony up the extra cash?
#5
04-13-2009, 02:16 AM
Guest... I'll give you the fact that Silverstone is old and out dated in terms of the pits but its an amazing circuit ..... however I agree that Magny Cours sucks ....I'd love to see Laguna Seca on the calendar the thought of F1 cars down the cork screw seems epic
#9
04-16-2009, 01:10 AM
Laguna Seca would be magnificent... I would bet that the rich enthusiasts up there would pony up the $2-3 million needed to get the race. I'd go every year.
#10
04-16-2009, 01:29 AM
All the options you guys mentioned are great but won't matter if Bernie won't move or if the teams don't agree to a 20 race season.
The teams have argued that a 20 race season would be too demanding on the lives of their traveling employees and families. My boys and I used to hang around the the track in Montreal for 3 hours after the race (we would procure all the alcohol available) and watch the crews pack up for the next race, I can tell you that it is a major undertaking.
The teams have argued that a 20 race season would be too demanding on the lives of their traveling employees and families. My boys and I used to hang around the the track in Montreal for 3 hours after the race (we would procure all the alcohol available) and watch the crews pack up for the next race, I can tell you that it is a major undertaking.